ADA accommodations provided to support faculty needs

Over the last several weeks, UF’s Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity has worked with UF Health and UFHR to provide employee accommodations as we prepare to offer more face-to-face classes in the spring. To date, a medical review team consisting of UF Health medical professionals, epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists has reviewed 181 faculty applications in consultation with UF ADA and HR representatives.

The review analysis was based on an individual’s medical condition.  UF and UF Health rely upon the CDC guidance as it relates to people with certain medical conditions who are “at increased risk” to process these requests. Those identified as “at increased risk” by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) could qualify for an accommodation.

The list of medical conditions identified as “at increased” risk by the CDC include:

  • Cancer
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
  • Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
  • Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus

All applicants thus far have received an accommodation of some type, including 58 receiving remote teaching accommodations and 123 receiving enhanced classroom safeguards consistent with the university’s preparations for the spring semester. An additional 27 applications are awaiting review, pending submission of medical documentation.

The university remains committed to following UF Health’s and the CDC’s expert guidance regarding physical distancing and mask-wearing to provide a safer and healthier learning environment while we all live, learn and work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.